I agree with Sandra about the lack of dexterity practice in young
children, but I see it even in high schoolers. They have difficulty
holding a ruler to draw a straight line and cutting accurately.
As far as Bob's comment about high schoolers cutting themselves
in spite of instruction, I think part of it has to do with the typical
adolescent invincibility. I know when I go around and remind them to
move their hands behind the tools, I invariably get, "I won't slip; I
won't cut myself" (they are usually the ones who do). I have had a
better safety record with sixth graders.
Still, I think it is important to a high school program to teach relief
prints and proper use of tools-in fact, both are included in our state
course of study. Linda in NC

> ----------> From: John & Sandra Barrick[SMTP:astroboy]> Reply To: astroboy> Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 1998 11:16 PM> To: Robert Alexander Fromme> Cc: artsednet.edu> Subject: Re: About Printing with Linoleum?> > Good point only the more reason to work with kids throughout the> year> before doing projects which depend on their finest of fine motor> skills. > I wonder if any of the other educators have noticed the same problem> with writing etc. With video games,computers etc.,kids are not> getting> the skills they use to get in 1st,2nd,3rd anymore. Girls have always> tested better in the area of fine motor at an earlier age, of course> boys catch up. Girls also do not have the interest in violence or> video games. It doesn't keep their interest. If boys continue to> play games which limit their hands as well as their minds, how will> their small muscles get exercise? I believe starting the year off> with finger dexterity projects and continuing with exercise will> prepare them for the end of the year when they will achieve this> task of Linoleum cutters.> Think of fine motor lessons:> Yes drawing, but needlepoint,weaving,tieying knots,carving,i.e., as> in using tools to dig out in clay as well as fingers. Plaster etc.> We can't punish them because they lack the use of their hands,all> the more reason to work with it.> On Aids-> I'd say clean all tools(especially those which can cut) and> disinfect daily or after each class which uses them. Make sure you> have a box of disposable gloves handy too. Along with a first aid> kit.> If still in fear then omit. Do a printing project which builds up> instead of cuts away.> Sandra> > Robert Alexander Fromme wrote:> > > > I teach high school and have noticed an increasing number of my> students> > with little experience using hand tools. They spend plenty of> their early> > years in front of the TV, computer games, etc. but they lack> experience with> > knives and related equipment. As a result, I do not enjoy working> with> > them on the linoleum prints. Many of the students cut themselves in> spite> > of my constant reminders of not cutting toward their hands. We have> a> > linocut project in drawing and in Art I. The school nurse makes me> use a> > mixture of 10 parts water to 1 part clorox to clean the tools each> time they> > are used (Proctection against the transfer of AIDS and hepatitus> from one> > student to another when they are cut.) The Clorox mixture makes the> knives> > rust, so I have to oil them each time they are cleaned.> > > > I suggest string prints, glue prints or cardboard prints for the> younger kids.> > > > Bob>